Quentin Troy Hall, 41, charged with violent attempted robbery of Surfers Paradise massage parlour

A man charged with the violent attempted robbery and arson of a Gold Coast massage parlour that sent one of the Glitter Strip’s busiest precincts into lockdown will spend Christmas behind bars after being denied bail.

Emergency crews at the scene at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Facebook/Rhys Bko

A man charged with the violent attempted robbery and arson of a Gold Coast massage parlour will spend Christmas behind bars after being denied bail.

Quentin Troy Hall, 41, is accused of setting fire to the Surfers Paradise business, assaulting a female staffer and using a gel blaster to bludgeon a 68-year-old man at the premises.

Wearing a hospital gown, Hall appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday charged with two counts of attempted robbery using violence armed and one count each of arson, serious assault person over 60, enter premises with intent to commit an indictable offence and obstruct police officer.

He was arrested on Thursday night after allegedly entering the Surfers Paradise Boulevard massage parlour about 6.25pm armed with a gel blaster.

Police allege he demanded money from the female staffer and her 68-year-old male friend, before leaving the scene on foot.

A short time later, Hall is alleged to have returned to the business and assaulted the male with the gel blaster.

The man sustained none-life-threatening injuries to his face and neck, police alleged.

Hall then allegedly set fire to the foyer of the massage parlour before fleeing on foot.

Applying for bail, defence lawyer Joanna McNae conceded Hall’s alleged offending was “very, very serious” but said some of the charges would be contested.

Ms McNae said there had been an “incident” at the massage parlour earlier on Thursday which Hall had reported to police.

She said he had then gone home and consumed alcohol mixed with medication for his mental health condition which included anxiety, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Alisha Isaacs shared a video to her 390,000 followers on TikTok showing police walking into karaoke bar, Tune Up, which neighbours Ghanda Clothing. Photo: Alisha Isaacs/TikTok

Influencer Chloe Hunter shared a video to her 106,000 followers on TikTok which showed herself and multiple other people locked inside Ghanda Clothing while police were searching for the man. Photo: Chloe Hunter/TikTok

Hall had then allegedly “lashed out (and) done something completely out of character” given his limited criminal history, Ms McNae told the court.

She conceded there was a strong Crown case, including video footage of a weapon, but said the facts of the robbery charges would be contested.

Ms McNae said strict bail conditions could be imposed to reduce the risk of Hall reoffending.

“This is his very first time in custody, that’s of course been a major shock for him, and a wake-up call being in the watch-house,” she told the court.

Police prosecutor Amelia Ridley opposed bail, saying Hall was a risk of committing further offences as well as a risk to himself.

She said it was a “targeted attack” that was “particularly concerning”.

She said there were “serious concerns” for the safety of the alleged victims, with the “elderly” male victim “very fearful” of Hall being released.

Hall lived in “extreme close proximity” to the massage parlour and would pass it if he was granted bail and had to report to Surfers Paradise police, Ms McNae said.

Magistrate Jane Bentley said it was a strong Crown case and Hall had to show cause why he should be given bail because of the serious circumstances.

Ms Bentley said video evidence included Hall filling gerry cans with petrol before he went to the massage parlour.

She said she was satisfied Hall’s actions were “premeditated and deliberate” and denied bail.

Hall was remanded in custody to reappear in court via video link on January 28.

Ms Bentley ordered police to provide a brief of evidence by January 17.

Originally published as Quentin Troy Hall, 41, charged with violent attempted robbery of Surfers Paradise massage parlour